37 Weeks

We're definitely almost there. Things are feeling..........different.

I've been having more and more contractions. Call them what you will - Braxton Hicks, practice contractions, whatever - but they're happening a lot more frequently than they were. There's no consistency to them, though. One here, one there, two here....... I'm entertained by them right now. I have a feeling that's going to change all too soon.

I'm completely exhausted. I sleep and sleep, and I'm still sleepy. Walking to the bathroom gets me out of breath and ready for a nap. It's strange - obviously this hasn't all happened at once, but it feels like I've all of a sudden taken to carrying a bowling ball around. It's like the weight has just now caught up with me. It's tiring!

My back is killing me. It's no surprise to me that it hurts - everyone told me it would, and common sense says that of course it would hurt my back - but what is surprising is that it's my upper back that's causing me problems. I think it's because of the posture change that comes with all of this. The really bad thing about it, though, is that normally when I get one of these nagging backaches I ask Scott for a back rub (and he eagerly complies) but it's a lot harder when I can't lay on my belly. That definitely restricts the back rub possibilities. My heating pads are my friends.

I'm in the bathroom constantly, it seems. It's definitely reminiscent of my first trimester.

This week has been a virtual calorie-fest. I'm eating everything in sight! I haven't had cravings for anything in particular, really, but the power of suggestion is really strong right now. Watching TV with me has to be really fun - every commercial that comes on inspires a comment such as, "Oohhh......that sounds really good," or, "Oh, yum. Can we go there?" As soon as another commercial comes on, that whim is gone. Whatever the last one was, though, sticks around. Unfortunately, this interest in food does not - I repeat, does not - extend to health food. Cookies, cakes, ice cream, potato chips, french fries, pizza.......those, on the other hand, carry particular appeal.

My hips are out of control. Aside from popping a lot, they feel downright disconnected. I'll move to the side and look down at one leg like, "All right, now. When I move, you have to come, too." My legs feel like they're just dangling there sometimes. It doesn't usually hurt, but sometimes it does; one time yesterday I nearly fell down because it was as though my hip just decided to stop working. Very interesting. It has Scott worried about me being out and about on my own.

The itching has subsided some. Still here, but definitely better. I'll take it.

My hormones are definitely revving, too. I'm crying so easily (poor Scott) and my face is breaking out. It's like my body is saying, "Whoa....wait a minute......something's going on here...."

Since things are getting so close (Scott still thinks this might happen before the end of the year), we've gotten things as ready for the "honey, it's time" moment as we can. My suitcase is finally completely packed (I worked on it a couple of weeks ago, but was missing a robe and a couple essential toiletry items) and is in the car now, and last night Scott installed the car seat.

All day today we kept looking in the back seat of my car and going, "Hey....what's that, honey? Why's there a car seat in our car?" It's the little things that make this real at times. The car seat seems so tiny, too! I put one of those little head support thingies in there, and I couldn't get over how tiny she's going to be to fit in there!

I'm officially full-term now, so it could literally happen at any time and everything would be fine. I always wondered how it would feel to be walking around knowing that "it" could happen anytime, and now that I'm here I'm still not really sure how I'm feeling! We're definitely excited, but we're definitely nervous, too. Someone asked me in church this morning if I'm ready, and I said, "I can say without hesitation....yes and no." Right now the most nerve-wracking thing is just not knowing when it could happen. I have a lot of peace knowing that God does know, though, and that He is in control of all of this. It's pretty amazing to think about, knowing that God knows the instant that she's going to arrive here. None of it is a mystery to Him.